Pastors' Report 2009
This has been a hard year for the national and local economy, an unsettling quarter for the ELCA and for some churches in our area, but for our church, as I look back on this year in the life of West Denmark, it’s been a pretty good year.
Yes, there are financial struggles – but when have we not felt that was true? The council and Mike and I as your pastors have instituted cost-saving and income-generating measures wherever we can. But what stands out to me in this regard is that we are continuing to provide ministry, to reach out beyond our doors, to welcome others into this community of faith and fellowship.
We hosted Assistant to the Bishop, Amy Odgren last spring for a visioning workshop, and her impression after spending several hours with us is that we’re doing the right things in terms of mission and identity. I’ve been thinking about this lately. I have a mentor as part of the 1st Call Program of the synod. He posed these questions:
What special purpose do we serve in this community?
What would the community miss if we failed to exist?
What impact do we have in helping people in our community address needed changes in their lives?
It’s easy to think that we can’t do much because we’re small and underfunded. It’s easy to point to other churches and see what they are doing, what needs they are meeting in the community, and then think we are only looking after our own interests and therefore not doing mission. I want to address that issue.
On the one hand, we do have an underwhelming record of benevolence. Pastor Mike and I are committed to changing that pattern! And so you will notice the word “mission” showing up in a lot of places and activities. You will notice that we are pushing harder for local and broader engagement (for example, the new Backpack ministry). You will also notice that there are ample opportunities for you to give of your “tithes and offerings,” your loose pocket change, your special gifts, and your hard-earned, glued-to-your-pocketbook, close-to-your-heart dollars on a regular basis.
On the other hand, while we are not the social ministry congregation that many of us might wish, we do have a gift that we share freely and generously with the community. Our identity is largely one of hospitality. That is a ‘missional,’ service-oriented identity. There is as much need for genuine relationships and honest welcome as there is for food and clothing. It is a different kind of need, but anyone who has felt isolated or lonely can speak to the hunger for inclusion and simple friendship. We have been trying to find ways of ‘exploiting our niche’ to draw in new members, and tend to overlook the things we do that are fun. But when we look at the lists of ‘regular’ members, guests, and friends involved in fellowship activities, we are doing well. This is reinforced by the amount of “friend financial support” we receive. It is significant.
An interesting pattern speaks to the outreach of these “fun’ missions. Parent’s Night Out began as a way of connecting to the young families within our congregation. There are months now when we have no West Denmark families represented among the children who come to play. The twice-monthly Community Meal can’t easily be cancelled, because most of the folks who come to share the meal are not church members and it’s harder to get in touch with them after church. The last Progressive Dinner was hosted at all three stops by non-church members who are, never-the-less, very connected to our congregation. The choir has new members and non-members who want to share their gifts and receive the gifts of our director and accompanist.
We have a following of folks who don’t go to this church, or who don’t (and won’t) go to any church – but that is what mission is about: Meeting people where they are and offering them a slice of the gospel, sharing with them the gifts we have been given, leaving them with the peace and compassion of God.
Pastor Mike and I thank you for the opportunity to serve this church. We appreciate the many ways you support and participate in the ministry we carry out in Christ’s name. While financial worries are real, they are not - and should not be - the focus of the church. We exist for the sake of the community and to worship and serve God through our many and varied gifts. West Denmark has been faithful to this calling. We ask for your continued engagement, participation, and prayers. We expect you to open your hearts and on occasion your purses to the big Mission and little missions put before us. We hope you will invite and encourage one another in attendance, forbearance, insight, and fellowship.
|
-- Pastor Linda, 11/1/2009
|
